Kim Nam-guk: "Yoon Seok-yeol's Candidacy Declaration Ceremony Turned Chaotic... Is Public Safety Being Neglected?"

"Site Completely Uncontrolled, 60-Year-Old Man Collapses"
"COVID-19 Cases Greatly Increased, Should Have Considered Non-Face-to-Face Send-Off Ceremony"

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is moving amid cheers from local residents after finishing his presidential election candidacy press conference at the Maeheon Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 29th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the launch event for former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's presidential campaign, calling it "a political event solely for former Prosecutor General Yoon, with the safety of the people neglected." Hundreds of supporters gathered at Yoon's launch event held on the 29th, causing chaos. During the event, one attendee collapsed and was transported to the hospital by ambulance.

On the 30th, Kim wrote on his Facebook, "It is said that nearly 1,000 supporters gathered around the Maehun Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall where former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol declared his candidacy," adding, "The massive crowd of nearly 1,000 people surrounded the vehicle carrying former Prosecutor General Yoon, turning the area outside the memorial hall into a chaotic scene in an instant."

He continued, "Supporters crowded around the vehicle carrying former Prosecutor General Yoon, filling the road, causing vehicles and people to become entangled, and the scene was completely uncontrolled," pointing out, "During this process, a man in his 60s collapsed on site, received cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and was transported to the hospital. It was a very dangerous situation that could have led to a much bigger accident."

He also expressed concerns about the spread of COVID-19. Kim said, "Considering the influx of the Delta variant and the recent sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, this is by no means a situation to be taken lightly," criticizing, "(Former Prosecutor General Yoon) should have actively considered a non-face-to-face launch event."

Kim Nam-guk, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

He added, "The president has the duty to protect the lives and health of the people," and pointed out, "However, former Prosecutor General Yoon's declaration of candidacy, as someone aiming to become president, lacks any mention of 'public safety.'"

He further criticized, "Former Prosecutor General Yoon's declaration of candidacy contains nothing but anger and excessive criticism toward the government," adding, "There is no clear perspective, no personal diagnosis of social issues or crises. Therefore, it is only natural that there are no concrete solutions proposed."

Earlier, on the 29th, former Prosecutor General Yoon officially announced his presidential bid at the Maehun Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

About 170 wreaths were lined up at the entrance and nearby roads of the event venue, and hundreds of supporters surrounded the venue. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, only event staff and press were allowed to enter for Yoon's declaration and press conference.

After Yoon finished the press conference and headed to his car, supporters rushed toward the vehicle, causing chaos in various places. The press line collapsed, and a middle-aged man fainted due to the crowd pressure, received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and was urgently transported to the hospital by ambulance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.